[MR] Measures Against Plague Resonate Today

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

BBC Future is offering an interesting story on how one doctor in Alghero,
Sardinia dealt with a 1582 outbreak of the plague. Surprisingly, the
doctor, Quinto Tiberio Angelerio, instituted social distancing,
disentecting, quarantine, and other measures. He also recognized that
survivors of the plague had some immunity, and could be employed in dealing
with active cases and disposal of the dead.

Also interesting, the BBC reports on how various people resisted his
measures, and some of the interesting ways they found to cheat the rules.

It took eight months, but eventually the plague subsided, though the BBC
doesn't say how high the death toll rose. Alghero was free from plague for
60 years, and when it struck again, the authorities returned to Dr.
Angelerio's methods.

Does this sound familiar?

The full story, with interesting illustrations, is at
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210107-the-432-year-old-manual-on-social-distancing
.

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Who is Holed-up in Mallard Lodge  🦆